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Does anyone know why the Erie Canal didn't first empty into Lake Ontario (via eg Oswego, NY, which eventually happened), and then have a second canal on the NY side of Niagara Falls connecting Lake Ontario to Lake Erie? That seems like a lot less digging than the famous canal. Was it just to keep transport away from potential British attacks/blockades, or was there some engineering/economic reason? I imagine switching mule pull trains for boats one more time would be annoying, but I have to imagine it would save time.

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